Understand

Ko Lipe (sometimes spelled Koh Lipe) is outside of the jurisdiction of Tarutao National Park, and as such is exempt from certain laws prohibiting development.

The island is home to about 500 Chao Ley, or Sea Gypsies, who were given a grant to half of the island and live in small villages, predominantly around the far east side of the island near Sunrise Beach. The name "Ko Lipe" means "Paper Island" in the local Chao Ley language.

According to a December 2008 report by the Sustainable Tourism Network, Ko Lipe is faced with numerous environmental problems, including destruction of wetlands, waste disposal, and water shortgages.

It is surrounded by uninhabited islands of the Butong Archipelago.

Get in

By boat

The following companies operate boats in the high season (November to May):

Adang Sea Tours[32] operates three daily speedboats from 1 November to 15 May, leaving Pak Bara at 11:30, 12:30, and 14:30. The speedboats stop at Ko Tarutao or Ko Bulone. The journey from Pak Bara takes 90 minutes and costs 650 baht one-way, 1,200 baht round trip. If you book directly in Pak Bara pier, then it will cost 500 baht plus 20 baht entrance fee. Note: the boats stops in open water pier at Pattaya beach and 70 baht must be paid for water taxi to reach the coast. The boats leave Ko Lipe at 09:00, 10:00, and 13:30 for the return trip.

Bundaya Resorts[33] and Lipe Speedboat Company also operates speedboats from Pak Bara and Langkawi, leaving at similar times and costing the same as above.

Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club[35] operates a daily boat from Ko Lanta, leaving at 13:00 and stopping at Ko Ngai, Ko Muk, Ko Bulone, before reaching Ko Lipe at 16:00. The boat leaves Ko Lipe at 09:00 for the return trip. The company offers transfers to this boat from Phuket. The company also operates two daily speedboats from Telaga Terminal @ Telaga Harbour Marina in Langkawi, Malaysia, 42 km from Ko Lipe. These boats dock at the south end of Pattaya Beach. The boats leave Langkawi at 09:30 and 14:30 for the 60 minute journey, costing approximately 120 ringgit. The boats leave Ko Lipe for the return journey at 10:30 and 16:30.

Tigerline Ferries[36] operates a daily speedboat to/from Langkawi, leaving Langkawi at 08:00 and arriving at Ko Lipe at 09:00, and returns from Ko Lipe to Langkawi at 16:00. The trip costs 1,200 baht. The company also operates a daily speedboat to/from Hat Yao Pier in Trang, leaving Ko Lipe at 10:00 and arriving in Trang at 12:30. The trip costs 750 baht. The company offers continuing boat service to Ko Lanta (1,500 baht total, arrives 15:30), and Phi Phi (1,800 baht total, arrives 17:00). For the journey to Ko Lipe, the boats leave Phi Phi at 08:00 and arrive in Ko Lipe at 15:30.

In the low season, there is one boat per day from Pak Bara leaving at 11:30.

Ferries are met by long-tail boats offering transfers to anywhere on Ko Lipe for an additional 50 baht/person (non-negotiable).

Health and Safety tip: Speedboats can often bounce off the waves at very high speeds and passengers can get quite strong jolts into the non-sprung seats, so persons with back or neck problems should not travel on the speedboats, but on the ferry. There have been reports of serious back injuries happening on the speedboats.

Get around

All of Ko Lipe can be covered on foot, although its size at first can be a little deceiving. There are few motorcycles around the island, none of which are for rent. There are no cars on the island. Long-tail boats will take you from any point on the island to any other point on the island for 50 baht. Small concrete roads link the various beaches. There are some motorcycle taxis that can take you around the island for 50-200 baht.

See

Beaches. Ko Lipe's beaches feature clear, calm, and shallow water. There are four main beaches to relax on: Pattaya Beach in the south the most popular beach; Sunrise Beach on the east, near the Chao Ley village; Karma Beach in the north which faces the Adang/Lipe channel; and Sunset Beach in the west, which as the name implies, faces the sunset.

Buddhist Temple, (centre of the island). Very small.

Do

Diving

The reefs around Ko Lipe are largely intact; the 2004 tsunami had little impact here. Around Ko Lipe are some Thailand's best reefs all within easy reach:

8 Mile Rock. A true deep sea pinnacle located 75 minutes away by boat. The rock can be a tough place to dive due to the strong currents, but the marine and bird life that come here to feed are fantastic. The top of the pinnacle rises to within 14 meters of the surface. Found here: soft corals, schools of pelagic fish, potato cod, manta rays, whale shark, leopard shark.

Between Ko Adang & Ko Rawi. Has excellent diving and snorkelling locations between the two islands where the mountains come down to the sea. Underwater there are huge boulders and many types of rare fish and coral species that inhabit the reef in this region. A great spot for drift diving. Snorkellers should head for the east side of Ko Rawi where the national park staff have set up ropes along the reef, so that snorkellers can pull themselves easily along and investigate the reef with ease.

Yong Hua Shipwreck. In 1996 a fish-factory ship anchored near the western end of Ko Lipe caught fire and sank in about 40 m of water. The shipwreck is now completely covered in marine growth and inhabited by schools of fish. The shipwreck has become a very interesting place to dive, but does often have strong currents making it a difficult dive. The top of the wreck is at about 26 m sitting on its keel that is at 40 m.

Hin Takorn Dukong. Located in the centre of the marine park. This site is home to just about every species of fish that you can imagine. The site is made up of granite stones shaped similar to building blocks rising up from the seabed into a structure with a series of tall points at its peak. Up to 18 m deep. Hard and soft corals, at least 6 types of eel such as snake eels, different types of lion fish and stone fish, Squid and cuttlefish try to hide here and succeed in attracting the larger predators such as sailfish.

Ko Bu Tang. Has become one of the most popular islands to dive. One of the largest islands of the group, Ko Bu Tong supports many bird and animal species. Troops of crab eating monkeys called "macaques" live on the island and a colourful type of bee-eater bird can often be spotted from the beaches here. Giant corals and shellfish grow everywhere around this island paradise. Dive the north and south channels although for deep diving the "Giant's Staircase" on the islands west side has huge natural stone steps going down to 50 m or more. Also to found on Ko Bu Tang is Sting Ray City, where the blue spotted stingrays are plentiful. This site is also very good for snorkelling. North Side: has Monkey Bay, similar to Sting Ray City but much more steep and dramatic. Expect to see endless rows of tall coral-heads, turtles and rare critters such as the ornamental ghost pipe fish and sharks sleeping under the corals. East Side: has the perfect tiny island of Ko Lokoi. Surrounded by about 90 acres of shallow coral, you could do four dives here and not see it all.

Ko Sawang. This tiny island is located on the outer edge of the archipelago. There is not a tree or scrap of vegetation that can grow on this tall smooth stone, but underwater this place is full of life. Fantastic coral gardens growing on the rocky outcrops below.

Ko Langcha. Between Langcha and Adang is a very nice coral garden really worth the effort both for divers and snorkellers as near-perfect gardens shelter all sorts including rays and eels.

Currents: The currents here are predominantly tidal which means that at certain times of the month strong currents exist. At other times, none at all. You can always find somewhere good to dive but the widest selection of dive sites is available twice a month, following the half moon.

Big Stuff: You can see numerous sharks, whale sharks and manta rays. Sightings of the big guys are more likely on sites around the edge of the marine park, nearer the deeper waters. For the best chance, try to visit 8 Mile Rock, Stonehenge or Ko Pung.

Castaway Divers, (Sunrise Beach), ☎+66 87 4781516 ([email protected]), [2]. Multilingual, experienced instructors. Offers night diving, PADI, SDI, and freediving courses. Snorkelling trips are run separately from the dive boats daily for only 650 baht (including lunch & equipment). Specialises in small intimate groups. The only diveshop on the island to offer recreational AIDA certification Freediving courses. Discover a new way to explore the underwater world by holding your breath! Learn breathing techniques, duck diving, static and dynamic apnea, and learn how to free dive in a safe and relaxed manner. Please check 'Freediving Thailand' on Facebook for more info.

Davy Jones Locker, (Pattaya Beach), ☎+66 890 465371 ([email protected]), [3]. Experienced instructors teaching all PADI courses from beginner to dive master level. Daily trips for certified divers to all the best dive sites around Ko Lipe. Free accommodation for divers and students available when you book online.(6.487424906560684,99.30009841918945)

Satun Dive, (Sunrise Beach Blvd), ☎+66 86 9461271, [8]. Open all year. Excellent diving and snorkelling guides. All PADI courses available. The best service, price, and atmosphere on the island.Cheap.

Other activities

Day Trips to Nearby Islands. Pirate Falls and Chado Cliff on Ko Adang, and the dense jungle on Ko Rawi are recommended visits.800 to 1,000 baht.

Kayaking. Rent a kayak from various spots on the beach and spend the day or two seeing the island and reef.

Massages. There are plenty of places to get a massage, including an offshoot of the Wat Po massage school, located in the centre of the island. Also Castaway Resort has a lovely little spa with sea views.

Snorkelling. The calm, clear water makes the Ko Lipe area ideal for snorkelling, with 25% of the world's tropical fish species found in the area. There are large varieties of fish around the coral just 20 m off all of the beaches. Ko Lipe is surrounded by over 30 islands and hundreds of reefs all within easy reach of the island. Tarutao National Park is one of Asia’s oldest marine parks thus the reefs and the islands surrounding Ko Lipe are in very good condition. nowhere else on the Southeast Asian peninsula will you find so many excellent snorkel sites so easily reached.

Freediving, Sunrise Beach (Castaway Divers). Freediving as a recognized activity has only been around for 100 years, but people have been practising diving deep without equipment for thousands of years. On Lipe only one dive operator on the island offers it as a AIDA certification courses available only at Castaway Divers on Sunrise beach, see above (Diveshops). Find 'Freediving Thailand' on Facebook for more info. Learn breathing and relaxation techniques, finning techniques, static and dynamic apnea and learn to dive in a safe and relaxed manner.

Sailing, ☎+66 77457002 ([email protected]), [9]. Sailing around Ko Lipe and within the Butang Group is certainly the most chilled way to explore these natural gems. There are day sailing trips with snorkelling activities or liveaboard sailing cruises within the Butang Group or as far as Ko Tarutao National Marine Park.1,500 to 6,000 baht.

Buy

2 ATMs have been reported (March 2014). First on the pattaya beach (on some resort on the left to the entry to main walking street), second in the... 7/eleven:)

The Internet cafe along the main street will change travellers cheques at reasonable exchange rates. You can have your Visa or MasterCard charged in exchange for cash back at Varin Resorts (5% fee), Pooh's (8% fee), and an Internet cafe near Ko Lipe Travel on the small road (5% fee). Bundhaya Resort offers the best exchange rates for dollars, euros, pounds or ringgit, but the rate is less than you would receive in a major city.

Eat

Most of the hotels serve food and drinks. In addition, there are several stand-alone restaurants:

Banana Leaf, (inland). Serves average food, but drink prices are good and they play movies every night on a big projection screen.

Elephant Books & Coffee, Walking Street, near Pattaya Beach (across from Roti Mina, next to Bamboo Tattoo), ☎0896461082 (from within Thailand) or +66 89 646 1082 ([email protected]), [11]. 08:00-22:00. An East-meets-West bookstore, selling and buying used books in English as well as other languages, including Swedish, German, Norwegian and Italian, and also selling goods that are handmade on the island, including beaded necklaces unique to South Thailand. Also a coffee house, offering a bistro menu with full-bar, wine and beer. The owners, transplants from San Francisco, serve up fresh, Western-style espresso drinks, hot and iced tea, and fruit shakes to compliment sweet and savory bakery items, Western breakfast dishes, sandwiches, salads and (AUS/NZ aged beef) burgers. Picnic takeaways can be ordered for lounging on the beach, or to take on snorkeling, dive and longtail tours. They also offer board games, coloring books and games for kids, and if you happen to play guitar, you're invited to share your talents using the shop's guitars, or join with the Thai staff to learn traditional (and not so traditional) Thai songs. 40-300 baht.

Flour Power Bakery, (Sunset Beach, next to Sabye Divers). There is absolutely brilliant banana cake in small aluminium box shapes. The seats are somewhat hidden behind the house. Western breakfasts and sandwiches are served with their hearty whole-grain bread.cinnamon buns: 60 baht, brownies: 40 baht; pies: 80 baht.

Jack's Jungle, inland between Sunset and Sunrise beaches (inland). A really lovely spot when you want to get off the beach and eat surrounded by nice cool, green jungle. The Thai food is fantastic (especially the coconut soups) and you can order to mild to Thai-style spicy. The banana-lime pancakes are especially great.

Pancake Lady, (island centre). The best pancakes in Thailand. Choose from fillings like coconut, banana, and chocolate. Delicious smoothies sold in plastic cups.

PeePee Bakery, inland on Walking Street, 10 m east of Pattaya Beach (Inland). A popular breakfast spot that has a good bakery adjoining that serves bagels and cinnamon rolls. The service can be rude and unhelpful, but still worth it.

Drink

Most of the hotels serve food and drinks. In addition, there are several stand-alone bars:

Longtail Bar, Walking Street, near Pattaya Beach (look for the bar made from an actual longtail boat), ☎0896461082, [12]. 4:00pm-4:00am. LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY! Opened in 2012 (same owners as Elephant Books & Coffee ), Longtail Bar is a one-of-a-kind live music venue where the house band (The Banana Band) plays Thai and English covers - and not just raggae - as well as original music, and where if you're in the bar, you're in the band - so feel free to grab a tambourine, maracas, flute, guitar or microphone and join in! Cocktail menu features classic and original Thai-inspired cocktails (try the Spicy Ginger Fizz, Lychee Splash, or Lemongrass Mojito), SangSom cocktails, unique shots, beer and wine. Original alcohol-free mocktails are also on the menu. And Longtail Bar is easy to find since the bar is made from an actual 10-meter long longtail boat!50-300 baht.

Barracuda Bar, (Pattaya Beach). Right spot to see the sunset and stay all night for party. Often there are fire shows and you can get an pizza slice at a very fair price. There are beach pillows to chill out on when the bar gets rowdy.

Bila Beach Cafe, (Bila Beach). This is the only bar/restaurant on the little, but sweet, Bila Beach. Worth a visit and a great place to hang out with a group of friends for the day.

Cocktail Bar, Walking St (on the only turn on Walking St). This is the bar: rough and alive, open and racy. They have a long list of cocktails, all fresh, very tasty and cheap (all for 100 baht). That is the place to be if you want to improvise your night.

Cozy Cove, north end of Sunset Beach. Great views and good tunes.

Focus Bar, (Inland). Live Thai band every night. Can get crowded with people dancing on the sand. Random fire crackers.

Jack's Jungle Bar, [13]. Otherwise known as JJ's, is inland and is a must-visit due to Jack's friendly personality. Jack also organises parties every Saturday in the high season, some with live music.Beer costs 60-70 baht and food costs 70-150 baht.

Mia LunA, Sunset Beach (Pirate Beach), [14]. DJs from all around the world play their music at Mia LunA. If you like electronic music, it's the place to go. Mia LunA organise parties like full moon, half moon and black moon.

Mom's Tattoo Bar, Walking St, near Pattaya Beach, ([email protected]). An intimate bar, where anyone can be a "regular" on their first visit. Tasty drinks mix well with good conversation and crazy-good music. Best place to lose an hour or five while making new friends or just hanging out with the bar's namesake owner, "Mom" (who is also a legendary tattoo artist).60-180 baht.

Oh My God!, (50 m from the intersection, at the end of Walking St (near Sunrise Beach) toward Chao Lay Village). A locals favourite. Oh My God! (used to be called Oh's Pooh Bar) moved to a new location 50 m from the intersection, at the end of Walking St(near Sunrise Beach) and is home to the best burger on the island. There are pool tables and TVs (for watching big sports events), and there are usually a few local divers hanging out there. They also serve some delicious food and bar snacks. Open late. Also sells Swedish snus.

Peace & Love, Pattaya Beach (facing the ocean at the entrance of Walking St, go left past Time to Chill, Tiger Bar/Massage). if you're still drinking, they're still open. A Lipe institution, offering a great beach vibe, well-made drinks, and nightly fire shows (best on the island!). Hang out and talk to the bar's Muslim owners Chai and Yaad and learn about the island and the history of the South Andaman, or just take in the amazing beach views from your beach mat. Three bamboo bungalows available for rent behind the bar.20-120 baht.

Reggae Bar, (Pattaya Beach). Mellow scene. On February 6 celebrates Bob Marley's birthday with a 3-day music and culture festival.

Sleep

Update February, 2014. We checked not 100% of places, but quite a lot and could not find any budget accomodations. All prices even for simplest bungalows for 2 persons start from 1000 baht. Averange price is 1500 baht. Some resorts in Sunrise Beach have poster with prices 700-800 baht for a bungalow, but when you ask it appears 1000 and more

Blue Tribes, (west end of Pattaya Beach), [15]. Open November to May. 13 spacious bungalows set around a garden. Some bungalows are right on the beach. There is a restaurant that serves Mediterranean “family style” cuisine and a nice reception/coffee lounge area that features chill music and serves fruit smoothies.Fan room: 1,000 to 1,500 baht; Fan cottage: 1,200 to 2,500 baht.

Bonus Resort, (middle of the island, about 400 m from Pattaya Beach and 200 m from Sunrise Beach.). Open November to May.Cheap bungalows in middle of the island. There are about 20 fan bungalows and 3 family rooms set among the garden-like jungle. Balcony, mosquito nets, bed, bathroom inside. Electricity 24/7.Fan room: 500 to 800 baht; Fan cottage family room, 4 persons: 1,000 to 1,500 baht.

Brothers Seaview Resort, (on a hill above an empty beach on the west end of Pattaya Beach.), [16]. Open November to May. Five sea views.Fan room: 900 to 1,100 baht.

Bundhaya Resort, (southernmost resort on Pattaya Beach), ☎+66 74 750248, [17]. Open all year. 80 bungalows. Fan rooms are in the back of the site and are grotty. Resort services include: snorkel and dive trips, mini mart, Internet, and laundry. There is a large open air restaurant and bar with a fantastic view of the beach. Breakfast is included. Decent exchange rates for major currencies.Fan room: 600 to 1,300 baht; Fan cottage: 900 to 1,900 baht; Air-con room: 750 to 1,700 baht; Air-con cottage: 1,800 to 9,000 baht.

Cafe Lipe, (centre of Pattaya Beach). 5 cute all-bamboo bungalows with fans, mosquito nets and verandas. Run by Bee and Darius. Homey atmosphere, friendly people. Restaurant features shaded tables right off the beach and serves healthy food like home-made bread, muesli, yoghurt as well as Thai food, and the best coffee and muesli/yoghurt for breakfast with shaded tables right off the beach.Bungalows: 500-1,500 baht.

Daya Resort, (west end of Pattaya Beach), ☎+66 80 5082087. Open November to May. Several fan bungalows close to the beach. Exteriors are painted in bright, sunny colours and have verandahs looking out onto lovely gardens. Bathrooms have cold water only. There is a very popular seafood restaurant. It's run by a local family, the Chao Ley fishermen who bring their daily catch up the beach and serve it in the evenings. Its quite a large resort with at least 20 bungalows or more. The family live at the top and bottom entrances so there is some security including the guard dogs. From this resort you can walk into the next one run by an Italian and have a great breakfast and pizza for lunch. One of the staff is called Bing and is a cool young guy, very helpful.Fan room: 1,000 to 1,200 baht (low season price 350 baht); Fan cottage: 1,200 to 1,400 baht.

Handicraft Bar & Guesthouse, (Pattaya Beach.). Open from November to May. Bungalows are covered with psychedelic shapes in bright neon colours. Roomy beds, and outdoor showers. Rooms are open to the elements, but there is mosquito netting.Fan bungalow: 500 baht.

Leepae Resort (Lee Pae Resort), (a few minutes walk west of the footpath to the centre and east side of the island.), ☎+66 86 9407339, [18]. Attractively designed, with wooden clapboard siding and glass doors. Fan rooms are cramped, basic, and pretty grimy. Air-con rooms are more spacious. Most units shaded by trees, which helps with the heat. Room rates include breakfast for two. All air-con rooms have hot showers & cable TV.Fan bungalow: 700 to 900 baht; Air-con bungalow: 1,400 to 1,800 baht; Air-con beachfront: 2,300 to 2,900 baht; Air-con beach front family: 2,800 to 3,600 baht.

Paradise Cottage Resort, (Pattaya Beach). Open November to May. 15 spacious bamboo bungalows with private bathroom, some directly on the beach.Fan room: 500 to 1,800 baht.

Pattaya Song, (far west end of Pattaya Beach), ☎+66 86 9600418. Open November to May. Incredible views. The concrete bungalows are particularly unattractive, musty and damp, with splotches of mould on the walls. The bamboo huts are quite a bit brighter and tidier. To get to your room, you'll have to clamber over a maze of steps, stairs, and muddy paths. Open high season only.Fan bungalow: 1000 baht.

Sita Beach Resort, (Pattaya Beach), [19]. Open all year. Lots of bungalows around a pool and more going up the hillside, a huge luxury development that is quite flash compared with the others.Air-con cottage: 3,800 to 20,900 baht.

Thai Hut Resort, (300 m from Pattaya Beach.), ☎+66 81 6081134. Open from November to May. Ten nicely-kept bungalows with good-sized rooms and small decks out front. No view. Air-conditioned and fan rooms. Restaurant on-site.Fan room: 800 to 1,290 baht.

Varin Beach Resort, (middle of Pattaya Beach, next to the path to Sunrise Beach and the village), ☎+66 74 728080, [20]. Open all year. 100 bungalows in many different sizes. All rooms have 24 hour electricity, big windows, en suite bathrooms, towels, and a private terrace with chairs. The beds are reasonably comfortable and the pillows are divine. Longhouse rooms are the cheapest, but there's no soundproofing whatsoever. The air-conditioned villa has fridge and a TV with satellite channels. Resort services include Internet, massage, bar and restaurant. Air-con room rates include breakfast of fried rice, eggs, fried noodles, fruit. Villas have hot showers.Fan room: 600 to 700 baht; fan cottage: 800 to 900 baht: air-con room: 1,300 to 1,500 baht; air-con cottage: 1,500 to 1,800 baht; air con villas: 2,000 to 3,500 baht; family 4-bed room: 5,000 to 5,500 baht.

Sunrise Beach

Adang Sea Divers, (behind Sunrise Restaurant, next to Varin Village), ☎"+66, [22]. Open all year. Brand new bungalows: 5 small cozy double fan rooms. Private fully equipped bathroom with hot/cold shower, kettle for tea and coffee in the room, terrasse on the garden side. Bungalows are cleaned and towels are provided. The resort recycles its grey water and most of its wastes. Packages for accommodation and dives. Bungalows 1,200 baht.

Castaway Resort & Restaurant, (at the south end of Sunrise Beach), ☎+66 83 1387472 or +66 81 1707605 ([email protected]), [23]. Open all year, Castaway is a stylish and comfortable accommodation on Ko Lipe. It has 43 wooden stilt bungalows with large decks with hammocks, some directly on the beach. Hmong blankets drape over the roomy beds, and fabric lanterns hang in the corner of the rooms. Cold water showers only. The bar and restaurant serves BBQ, Thai, and Western food. It's a nice place to chill out day or night with a cocktail. Also available are daily yoga sessions at 07:00 and 16:30.Bungalows 1,000 to 5,000 baht; house: 2,000 to 6,000 baht.

Forra Bamboo Resort & Restaurant, (Sunrise Beach), ☎+66 089 6731121, [24]. Open all year. 18 well-designed, spacious bungalows, built from natural materials. Every bungalow has one four-poster bamboo double bed or two platform-raised bunk beds with mosquito net and a large terrace and sea view. Some bungalows have a mezzanine floor with an upper window (for a good view!) and the option of a second bed. Each bungalow has a fan (electricity 08:00-10:30 and 17:30-24:00). Bungalows to sleep 1-4 people available. Advance reservations only accepted from divers. Restaurant serves home-made pizzas and cool drinks. Staff were indifferent and weren't interested in doing their job.Bungalows: 800 to 1,600 baht with a 25% discount available on the bungalow on the days that you dive with Forra..

Gypsy Bungalows, (next to Forra dive resort), ☎+66 80 5976618 ([email protected]). Open November to May. Two rows of thatched huts running off of the beach. Rooms are compact but attractive, with bamboo walls, big beds draped in mosquito netting, sunny open-air bathrooms. It can be a little difficult to track down management.Half-concrete/half-bamboo bungalow: 850 baht; Concrete bungalow: 1600 baht.

Tarutao Cabana, ☎+66 74 732510. Open all year round. Managed by by Tigerline Travel -- the operators of the ferry service between Lipe and Langkawi, Malaysia. The bungalows are well-constructed and there is 24 hour electricity and all bungalows have a private porch, all with daily towel service and Western breakfast at the restaurant. The air-con bungalows have hot water and satellite TV. The on-site Chao Lay Coffee Shop serves only halal food to accommodate Malaysian Muslim visitors.Fan bungalow: 300 to 750 baht; Air-con bungalow: 600 to 1,750 baht; Family room: 800 to 2,400 baht; Tent: 500 baht.

Viewpoint Resort, (Sunrise Beach), ☎+66 83 1933362. Open all year. one of the few Chao Lay-run resorts on Ko Lipe. Bungalows are built on a hill overlooking the bay, and some are a steep climb uphill and up stairs. The bungalows are pretty rustic and many have wide cracks between floorboards that can let in crawling creatures. Bungalows are outfitted with big beds with decent mattresses, fans, mosquito nets, and have Western bathrooms.Fan bungalow: 500 to 700 baht.

Zanom Sunrise, (south Sunrise Beach), ☎+66 87 4750494. Spacious and comfortable bungalows with fans (no air-conditioning) and private bathrooms (cold water only). The friendly local owners also run a restaurant there that is only open in high season (mid-November to mid-May). They serve breakfast, coffee, drinks, seafood, and Thai-style fried fish. A few plastic tables are set up on the sand.Bungalows from 480 baht in low-season.

Sunset, Bila & Sanom Beaches

Bila Beach, (Bila Beach, near Sunset Beach), ☎+66 80 5392056, [27]. Bila Beach is a secluded bungalow bar and bistro in the jungle on the sunset side of Ko Lipe. Accommodation includes 3 private bamboo bungalows and 1 dormitory. Free Wi-Fi and unlimited use of snorkelling gear is included in the bungalow tariff. Open year round.Fan bungalow: 1,000 to 1,500 baht;.

Brothers Seaview Resort, Sanom Beach, (Up the hill at Sanom Beach, a short walk from Pattay Beach), [28]. Chao Ley owned and operated, and located on the hillside of Sanom Beach, with panoramic views of Pattaya Beach & The Andaman Sea. Brothers Seaview Resort is quickly becoming known as Ko Lipe's secret little gem. Open year round.Fan Seaview Rows 1 & 2: 900 to 1,100 baht;.

Fisheries Department Bungalows, (rocky end of Sunset beach), ☎+66 87 4787958. Open all year. Snorkelling masks and fins can be hired for 100 baht. Six bungalows on the beach overlooking Ko Adang with attached bathrooms. Bungalow #1 has the most panoramic view. The bungalows are run by a talkative government employee who speaks good English. The restaurant operates only during the low season.Fan bungalow: 250 to 500 baht.

Porn Resort, (Sunset Beach), ☎+66 89 4645765, [29]. Open from November to May. The only resort on Sunset Beach. One of the more quiet sleeping options on Ko Lipe. 29 fan bungalows in different sizes. Electricity from 18:00-22:00. All bungalows have thin mattresses on wooden platforms and a fan. Tent renters get use of bathrooms. Popular restaurant. Visa & MasterCard accepted for a 5% fee. Porn means "blessing" in Thai.Fan bungalow: 400 to 700 baht; Tent: 150 baht.

Inland

Baan Kasirin 2, (middle of the island near the intersection, about 400 m from Sunrise Beach and 600 m from Pattaya Beach). Open November to May. Laundry service, Satellite TV, Internet.Air-con room: 1,350 to 1,650 baht.

The Reef, (centre island), [31]. Open 1 November-15 May. Located near Sunrise beach and is easily found on the hill in the centre of the island. 12 modern rooms are set around a garden courtyard and have access to a terrace overlooking the mountains of Ko Adang, the Chao Ley village, and Sunrise Beach. All rooms have air-con and hot showers.Air-con Room: 1,200 to 2,100 baht.

Respect

Fishing is illegal near the island, so stay away from fishing trips and do not purchase locally-caught fish.

Stay safe

The Chao Lay village has a small medical clinic. There are now 4 doctors at the hospital. For emergencies they will provide first aid and organise transport to the mainland hospital. The phone number of the hospital is +66 85 454 3814 (English-speaking doctor).

Please also note that stonefish have been spotted and photographed in the waters of Ko Lipe. While the chances of getting stung are slim, you may want to consider protective footwear when swimming in the water.

Get out

Sometimes Lipe seems to be trying to hold onto you. Consider this, especially if you have a flight to catch:

There are quite a few travel agencies on the island, all offering to book the speedboat/ferry and train/bus tickets, that can get you literally anywhere in Thailand. They operate in collaboration with mainland agencies in Hat Yai or Trang, two usual places from which to take the bus or train. The mainland agencies buy the tickets at the railway station, and these close at 18:00. It's best to come to the island travel agency well before that time, since they won't be able to book your ticket later in the day. If you reserve the ticket at a late hour, they will try to buy it the next day, but the train may be fully booked. It's better to insist on them reserving the ticket when you are at the agency, as they happen to postpone it at times, which may result in not getting the ticket.

For the trains it's best to book at least 3 days in advance. For most buses one day ahead is enough. Buses are less comfy and more expensive though, compared with the 2nd A/C sleeper class trains.

Feel free to bargain. Travel agencies can't do anything about the train/bus price, but they are able to lower the ferry/speedboat price as well as the minibus transfer from the port to the city.

Contact

Wi-Fi (free) are available on almost all resorts and bars/restaurants.